Head-rest for embalming-tables



(1&0 Model.)

G. M. LUKENS.

HEAD BEST FOR EMBALMING TABLES.

Patented Sept. 1, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Urricn.

CHARLES M. LUKENS, OF SPRING-FIELD, OHIO.

- HEAD-REST FOR EMBfiLMlNG-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,551, datedSeptember 1, 1885.

Application filed October 3, 1884.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. LUKENS, of the city of Springfield,county of Ola-rk,and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in HeadRests for Embalming-Tables, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to headrests to be used with embalming-tables andother apparatus.

Heretofore head rests as applied to embalming-tablcs have been fixed tothe frame work of the table, and have been capable of but oneadjustment.

The object of my invention is to provide a head-rest forembalming-tables of such construction that it may be adjusted todifferent angles to suit the subject and which may be retained inposition without being fastened to the table. This is a greatdesideratuni, as it permits the-head-rest to be placed in positionwithout disturbing the subject, and it permits the head to be quicklypositioned, as is desirable when an operation is to be performed.

My invention consists in a headrest for embalming-ta-bles andothersiniilar apparatus, having a base provided with a hingedheadrest-supporting standard and a hinged headrest, substantially as andfor the purpose hereinafter described.

It also consists in a head-rest the base of which is provided with anadjustable headrest-supporting standard, said standard being hinged tothe base and provided with a ratchet-wheel, in combination withmechanism to regulate the adjustment of the supportingstandard andretain it in adjusted position, said standard being provided with ahead-rest plate hinged thereto, substantially as and for the purposehereinafter described.

It also consists in an embalming-table headrest having an oblong baseadapted to extend down between the shoulders of the subject, said basebeing provided with a head-rest-supporting standard provided with aratchet wheel and hinged to the base, said standard being also providedwith a head-rest plate hinged thereto,provided with a ratchet-wheel, andpawls pivoted to the base and standard, to engage the saidratchet-wheels to regulate the adjustment of the said standard and head(No model.)

rest plate, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter described.

It also consists in certain details of construction hereinafter fullyset forth.

Figure 1 represents in plan view a headrest for enibalming-ta-blesconstructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation ofthe same; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section on dotted line :0 a",Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a front elevation of the head-rest,looking in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 2.

The base of the headrest A, preferably of wood and oblong in shape, asshown in the drawings, is provided with a raised portion or block, A, towhich is hinged at a a head-restsupporting standard,B. The said standardB is provided at its lower end with a toothed segment or ratchet, B,which is engaged by a pawl, B", pivoted to the base A, and has itsmovement in a slot, C, in the said base, a spring, D, being provided toretain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet.

The standard B is also provided with a plate, E, secured thereto, saidplate having ears F at its upper end, which ears act as the sides of ahinge, to which is pivoted a ratchetwheel, G, of a head supportingplate, H, said ratchet being interposed between the said ears F. Theratchet-wheel G will preferably be formeda part integral with thehead-rest plate H. They may, however, be formed in separate pieces. Thehead-rest plate H will be shaped to correspond to the contour of apersons head, and is cut away in the center, as shown in the drawings.

Pi voted to the plate E, upon lugs I, is a pawl, J, which pawl engageswith the ratchet-wheel G to regulate its adjustment, a spring,i,beingprovided to retain the pawl in engagement with the said ratchet.

. By this construction it will readily be seen that the head-rest may beadjusted to many different angles, which is a great convenience, as itis in practice often necessary to change the position of the head of thesubject, especially when an operation is necessary, and by constructingthe head-rest with along baseplate I am enabled to adjust it to asubject and retain it in place without fastening, as the base willextend down between the shoulders of the subject, and will thereby beheld in place.

As will be noticed, the pawls which engage the ratchets are eachprovided with a free end or thumb-piece, which free end is presseddownward to disengage the pawl from its ratchet to permit the parts tobe adjusted,the springs bearing against the said pawls insuringengagement of the pawls with the ratchet.

The operation of the head-rest being obviously apparent,it will beunnecessary to enter more fully into its manipulation.

I claim 1. A head-rest the base of which is provided with a hingedadjustable head-rest-supportingstandardprovided witharatchet-wheel orsegment,in combination with a pawl or other equivalent to regulate themovement of the said supporting-standard and retain it in adjustedposition, said standard being provided with a headrest plate adjustablyconnected thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination,with a head-rest having an oblong base provided withan adjustable head-rest-supporting standard and mechanism to regulatethe adjustment of the same, of a head-rest plate of a shape conformingto the shape of a head, provided with a ratchet-wheel and adjnstablyconnected to the supportingstandard, and a pawl connected with the saidstandard to engage the said ratchet-wheel to regulate and retain thehead-rest plate in adjusted position,-substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. The combination, in a head-rest for embalming-tables, of the base A,slotted at one end,and provided with a pawl and spring,thesupporting-standard B, having the ratchet B to be engaged by the saidpawl, said standard being hinged to the base, as described, the openhead-rest plate H, having a ratchetwheel, G, and hinged thereby to aface-plate, E, connected to the said standard B, and theratchet-engaging pawl J, and its spring pivoted to the plate E to engagethe ratchet wheel and regulate the movement of the headrest plate, allas and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Springfield,Ohio, this 20th In presence of- CHASE STEWART, N. E. G. WHITNEY.

